North Tonawanda: Residents raise concerns on roads

Fri, Sep 23rd 2016 10:55 am

By Mike Pidanick

Road conditions were again a topic of concern for residents
at Tuesday's North Tonawanda Common Council meeting. But the subject of the
complaints, regarding a short stretch on Ridge Road from the Meals on Wheels to
Payne Avenue, is not the responsibility of the city.

Barbara Barrett, a Castlebar Drive resident who works with
Meals on Wheels, compared that route to an obstacle course. But that patch of
road is not owned by the city; it's co-owned by the North Tonawanda School
District as well as Sportsplex.

"The city can't step in because we don't own it," Mayor
Arthur G. Pappas said during the meeting at NT City Hall. "We can't go on
private property and fix roads. That's why the city hasn't taken action."

The issue has been going on for some time and the city has
been aware and involved. But, ultimately, it's up to the owning parties to get
things done.

"The school district and the Sportsplex has been in a
debate, so to speak, for years over who is responsible for that part of the
road," Pappas said. "There have been several proposals made, but (it has) never
solved anything or ever come close."

The road was one of the topics brought up by community
members during the public portion of the meeting, which lasted nearly an hour.
But most of the community members took the time to commend the successful 2016
Healing Fields, which honored those lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Among those to
speak was Joanne Guercio, president of the Erie-Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club.

"I'm very proud of our Healing Field," she said. "And I'd
also like to take the time to thank the board for making it possible for us to
have the fields."

Among other business, the council unanimously approved the
Donner Creek easements, the latest step in the long-term project to improve
sewer lines along Donner Creek. Approximately 25 neighboring residents must
sign easements in order for crewmembers to be able to work on the project.